This is from John Piper. We should never have any shortage of things to pray for if we read the New Testament and pray what they prayed for:<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014 They called on God to exalt his name in the world:\u00a0Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n They called on God to extend his kingdom in the world:\u00a0Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10<\/a> ).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n They called on God that the gospel would run and triumph:\u00a0Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you (2 Thessalonians 3:1<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n They called on God for the fullness of the Holy Spirit: \u00a0If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13<\/a>; cf. Ephesians 3:19<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n They called on God to vindicate his people in their cause:\u00a0And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? (Luke 18:7<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n They called on God to save unbelievers:\u00a0Brethren, my heart\u2019s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved (Romans 10:1<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n They called on God to direct the use of the sword:\u00a0Take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying through all prayer and supplication on every occasion . \u00a0(Ephesians 6:17-18<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n They called on God for boldness in proclamation:\u00a0Pray at all times in the Spirit . . . and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-19<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness (Acts 4:29<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for signs and wonders:\u00a0And now Lord . . . grant your servants to speak thy word with boldness . . . while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus (Acts 4:30<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit (James 5:17 -18<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for the healing of wounded comrades:\u00a0Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up (James 5:14-15<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for the healing of unbelievers:\u00a0It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery; and Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him (Acts 28:8<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for the casting out of demons:\u00a0And he said to them, \u201cThis kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer\u201d (Mark 9:29<\/a>)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for miraculous deliverances:\u00a0So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church . . . When he realized [he had been freed], he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying (Acts 12:5<\/a>,12<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake (Acts 16:25-26<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for the raising of the dead:\u00a0But Peter put them all outside and knelt down and prayed; then turning to the body he said, \u201cTabitha, rise.\u201d And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up (Acts 9:40<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God to supply his troops with necessities:\u00a0Give us this day our daily bread (Matthew 6:11<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for strategic wisdom:\u00a0If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him (James 1:5<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God to establish leadership in the outposts:\u00a0And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed (Acts 14:23<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God to send out reinforcements:\u00a0Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:38<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, \u201cSet apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.\u201d Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off (Acts 13:2-3<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for the success of other missionaries:\u00a0I appeal to you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit They called on God for unity and harmony in the ranks:\u00a0I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me (John 17:20-21<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for the encouragement of togetherness:\u00a0[We are] praying earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:10<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for a mind of discernment:\u00a0And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for a knowledge of his will:\u00a0And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God to know him better:\u00a0[We have not ceased to pray for you to be] increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10<\/a> ; cf. Ephesians 1:17<\/a> ).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n They called on God for power to comprehend the love of Christ:\u00a0I bow my knees before the Father . . . that you may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (Ephesians 3:14<\/a>,18<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
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\n, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, (Romans 15:30-31<\/a>).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n